Robert Mugabe National Youth Day

Robert Mugabe National Youth Day is a Zimbabwean national holiday which falls on President Robert Mugabe's birthday, the 21st of February. The holiday was announced on the 18th of August 2017, by Home Affairs Minister Dr. Ignatius Chombo. The holiday was declared in honour of President Robert Mugabe after years of petitioning by the Zanu-PF Youth League and will start in the year 2018.[1]

Critticism of Robert Mugabe National Youth Day

Opposition parties criticised the holiday saying that there was nothing to celebrate about Mugabe's birthday as he had impoverished and destroyed the dreams of many youths.

Obert Gutu, the MDC-T statement said:

It is an insult to the suffering and toiling youths of Zimbabwe to declare February 21 as a National Youth Day. What has Robert Mugabe done for the youths besides trashing their dreams and destroying their hopes and aspirations through decades of misrule, mismanagement of the national economy and rampant corruption? We trust that a truly democratic and progressive government in Zimbabwe will move in very swiftly to scrap out this ill – deserved and fascist public holiday called the Robert Mugabe National Youth Day.
[2]

NCA spokesperson Madock Chivasa said

There is no need to have a holiday to appreciate effort made by an individual who is responsible for destroying our economy. President Mugabe ruined this country and has caused untold suffering to majority of poor Zimbabweans and it remains an insult for all of us to honour him for his misguided and destructive policies. [2]